Children create bowling games by erecting obstacles at the bottom of ramps and rolling marbles or balls down the ramps.
Build a bowling game with ramps and obstacles.
Watch and listen, engage in science and math talk, and have fun!
Materials
- Materials to make ramps, such as cove molding, cardboard tubes from paper towel or gift wrap rolls, or cardboard flats
- Blocks to prop up ramps
- Objects to roll down ramps, such as large marbles or balls
- Objects to use as obstacles, such as plastic cups, cardboard tubes, toy cars, small blocks, hand towels, or toy animals
- Masking tape
- Optional: Scissors or package knife (for teacher use to cut cardboard tubes)
Preparation
- Think about any guidelines you may want to set for building the ramps. For example, in order to keep marbles and balls contained in the Learning Center area, you may want to ask children to build ramps so that they are facing a wall.
- Cut some cardboard tubes in half lengthwise, so they become open troughs. Tear lengths of masking tape for children to use in taping the tubes to surfaces or to other tubes.
Directions: Lesson 12
Learning Center
- Have children set up a ramp and construct obstacles at the bottom of their ramp. Then encourage them to explore what happens when a large marble or a ball rolls down the ramp and hits the obstacles at the bottom. The obstacles should be quite close to the bottom of the ramp (6″–10″ away).
- Children may want to use lengths of cove molding (or cardboard tubes) to make several ramps, each aimed at different obstacles.
- Discuss which ramps make the marble or ball roll closer to or farther from the obstacles. How can you change the ramp to make the (marble, ball) hit the obstacles?
- As you circulate through the Learning Center, ask children to demonstrate their bowling games to you and the other children within their group. Ask them to describe what happens to the marble or ball when it hits an obstacle. Have children observe and compare what happens to different obstacles when they are hit by the rolling marble or ball.
SAFETY ALERT: Marbles can be a choking hazard to children. Make sure children understand that they are never to put marbles in their mouths. Monitor children when they are playing with marbles to ensure that they are using them responsibly and safely.
